Dnyaneshwar

There was a Brahman named Visoba Chati in the town, who harbored a deep hatred for the four children. He continuously insulted them, saying, "These are the children of a sannyasi. We should not even look at their faces." He muttered these insults incessantly. Just as a moth, according to its nature, seeks to extinguish the light, or as a firefly declares, "I will destroy the sun completely," or as Hiranyakashipu raged within himself upon seeing Prahlad, or as Duryodhana became angry upon hearing praises of righteousness, or as the ten-headed monster Ravan became wrathful upon hearing stories of Ram's heroism, or as scholars rebuke authors in hatred when they come across books written in Marathi, or as thieves revile the full moon upon seeing it, or as astrologers oppose Sahadev's teachings with animosity, similarly, Visoba Chati continuously glared at them with angry eyes, feeling greatly troubled whenever he saw them. He would say, "These are children of a sannyasi. We should never even look at their faces. If we look at them, they will make us like themselves."

During the celebrations of Dasara and the Festival of Lights, Nivritti asked Muktabai to prepare delicious pancakes for them to eat. Agreeing to his request, she gathered the necessary ingredients for cooking. She went to the potters' workshop to get an earthen pan for baking. While walking along the street, she suddenly spotted Visoba. Filled with fear, Muktabai hid behind something. Visoba immediately approached her and demanded, "Where are you rushing to? Tell me now." Muktabai trembled in fear, just as a lotus flower fears an elephant or a cuckoo trembles upon seeing a falcon, or a deer in a forest trembles upon spotting a hunter, or a cow trembles upon seeing a tiger. She replied with great fear, "I am going to the potters' field to buy an earthen pan. Nivritti instructed me to quickly make the pancakes." Hearing her response, Visoba laughed and struck Muktabai. He then went and warned the potter not to give her the earthen pan, threatening to demand immediate repayment of a debt he claimed she owed him. Frightened by the threat, the potter was greatly troubled.

Muktabai, distraught and weeping, returned home and cried pitifully. At that moment, Dnyaneshwar arrived at his hermitage after his bath and heard Muktabai's cries. Dnyaneshwar embraced her and caressed her with his hand, asking her, "Why are you sad? Tell me immediately." Sobbing, she explained, "I was on my way to the potter's house to get an earthen pan for baking cakes, and Visoba met me on the way and angrily struck me. He told the potter not to give me the pan. I came back home and am now sitting here weeping. Nivritti commanded me to make the cakes today with my own hands, and now I am disheartened. What should I do?" At that moment, Visoba Chati stood outside the window, listening intently to their conversation.

Dnyaneshwar consoled Muktabai and pondered how to deal with Visoba's behavior. Using his yogic powers, he kindled an internal fire, and flames emerged from his mouth. His eyes became bloodshot, and his back turned bright red, shining like heated gold. Visoba watched this remarkable sight from outside. Dnyaneshwar instructed Muktabai, "Bake the cakes on my back." She quickly gathered the necessary ingredients, rolled out the dough, and in no time, the cakes were baked and ready. Dnyaneshwar extinguished his internal fire. Muktabai served the milk of devotion and love in a cup of joy. For sweetness, she used the joy of peace, which is boundless. She broke the cakes of experience into the milk, and the four of them, Nivritti, Dnyaneshwar, Sopan, and Muktabai, sat down together to eat. As they took their first bite, they exclaimed, "Shri Hari is the true enjoyer of this meal."

Throughout this time, Visoba stood outside witnessing this extraordinary spectacle. Overwhelmed with remorse, he thought to himself, "These are truly divine beings. I have needlessly troubled them. I acted without thinking. I found a treasure trove of jewels and diamonds but mistook them for glass beads, so I carelessly slung them away. I saw a wish-fulfilling tree but considered it a mere ordinary tree, so I recklessly cut it down. To a blind man, the most precious diamonds appear as ordinary stones. When Ganges water is poured into a bottle, a drunkard sees it as intoxicating liquor. Similarly, when an unfortunate person comes across a heap of jewels, it appears to them as mere fire. Just as Duryodhana wrongly judged Shri Krishna, the incarnation of Supreme Brahm, and needlessly troubled him as his brother-in-law, I too must repent for my actions." Full of repentance, Visoba said to himself, "I must go to them as a humble supplicant. I will forcefully take whatever is left on their plates and thereby bring about my own well-being."

With this determination, Visoba rushed into their home and entered the room where they were eating. Dnyaneshwar hid his plate behind him, but Visoba forcefully snatched a morsel of food from it. As he put the morsel in his mouth, Dnyaneshwar said to him, "Why are you behaving like a scavenger bird? Leave immediately." Upon hearing this, Visoba took those words to heart, and his indescribable state of being can only be understood as a complete union with the essence of Brahm. Like a sound that arises from a bell and disappears in the same place, Visoba remained free from duality, united with Brahm. He joined his hands together in a prayerful gesture, placed his head at Dnyaneshwar's feet, and Dnyaneshwar understood his thoughts. Dnyaneshwar blessed him with assurance. Just as Valmiki discarded his wicked nature as soon as he encountered Narad, Visoba's association with Dnyaneshwar transformed him into a virtuous person. From that time onward, he came to be known as Visoba Khechar.